Provided photo: State Assemblyman Steve Hawley presents a citation to Jon DeYoung on April 27 when he was recognized as Clarendon’s “Firefighter of the Year.”

CLARENDON – The Clarendon fire chief, who is fighting cancer for the fourth time, continues to lead the volunteer fire company, responding to most of the fire calls, accidents and attending committee meetings and training sessions.

Jon DeYoung does it while working a full-time job and getting chemo treatments. The Fire Company’s Board of Directors on April 27 honored him as Clarendon’s “Firefighter of the Year.”

“Regardless of everything going on he stays very active and is at the fire scenes, the trainings and all the committees,” said Bob Freida, president of the fire company.

DeYoung, 53, was feeling tired on April 27 from chemo. He had to build up his strength just to get to the banquet. He arrived late with a chemo pump, and was surprised to receive the award.

“He is truly doing the job as fire chief,” Freida said. “We wanted to recognize him for his determination and fight to continue to give back to his community.”

DeYoung said he was determined to attend the banquet to present the Chief’s Award to his son, Jon DeYoung Jr. who worked the past three years to get new rescue tools for the fire company.

He also was able to recognize his other sons for milestone anniversaries of service to the fire company. Jeremy has been a volunteer firefighter for 15 years and Tyler has been for 10 years.

“As the Chief and father of these young men I couldn’t have been more proud,” DeYoung posted on his Facebook page.

After he presented those awards, he said he was “totally shocked” when he was recognized as firefighter of the year. He received a plaque and personally engraved watch as well as citations from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and State Sen. Robert Ortt.

“I could never do this without the support of all of our Line Officers and members,” DeYoung said. “None of it would be possible without the support of my family and number one supporter Brenda DeYoung. Thank you all!!”

The Fire Company also honored Dan Campbell for his service on the Board of Directors, and Troy Kingdollar received the President’s Award.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Jon DeYoung, front center, is pictured on March 24, 2018 in Albion when he was joined by about a dozen friends and family at the Wayne A. Burlison-Colon Cancer Awareness 5K Run and Walk in Albion. DeYoung walked the entire 3.17-mile course with his wife Brenda, son Jon and his wife Jessica, brother Jim and his wife Jackie, and several firefighters. Some of the firefighters wore their turnout gear while walking the course. The group also wore “DeYoung Strong” shirts.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Marti’s on Main kicked off a new season of art shows on Friday, with Shirley Nigro the featured artist this month.

Nigro of Albion owns the Fired Up – Ready to Paint Ceramics business in Batavia. She makes ceramics in a style known as bisque wear. She also makes dolls, necklaces and other multi-medium artwork. She is known for her faces and has been featured in books and magazines.

Her goal with her artwork is to encourage people “to open their minds that anything is possible.”

“I Got You Babe” is dedicated to women suffering breast cancer – and their caregivers.

Nigro creates faces on vases, rocks, anything solid really. Her work amazes her friends and other local artists who joined her Friday at Marti’s for a reception.

“I’ve never met somebody who has such a continual flow of unique and original ideas,” said Connie Mosher, an artist from Gaines. “I don’t know how one person can come up with all of these characters.”

Nigro also makes the clothes, hair and bodies for the characters and gives them a three-dimensional look.

This piece is titled, “Diamonds are a girls best friend.”

Nigro is pictured with some of her artwork at Marti’s, which is celebrating its ninth season in Albion.

The gallery is located at 229 South Main St., and is owned by Kim Martilotta Muscarella. The gallery is open Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.

The lineup of art shows this year includes:

• June – Chris Manaseri

• July – Mickey Campbell

• August – Jeremiah Curtis Knight, Rebekah Knight Papke, Adana Knight Zambito, Lily Zambito, Maleah Knight, McKinley Knight and Kitty Papke

• September – Pat Greene

• October – MCC Professors Group “For Drawings Sake” with Peter Monacelli, Jason Smith, Kathy Ferrell, Jason Flack, Jim Downer and Dave Werberig

• November – Brockport Artist Guild with Becky Maynard, Priya Banergee, Nancy Radzik, Roseanne Mascari, Jennifer Wells Dickerson, Gretchen Lee Carletta, Pamela Bradley, Leonard Ippolito, Bonnie Gloris, Leslie Kofron and Richard Hart

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Sandy Vaughn and Sharon Keirn receive service awards from Twig president Jeanne Crane at their annual banquet Monday at Zambistro’s. Vaughn received a 100-hour bar, while Keirn was presented with a 2,000-hour bar.

MEDINA – Medina Memorial Hospital’s Association of Twigs held their annual dinner meeting Monday at Zambistro’s Restaurant in Medina.

President Jeanne Crane welcomed guests and stressed the need for more volunteers for the Greeter Desk and Reception Desk.

The Twigs which once numbered more than 300 members now has 65, who are determined to keep the group going.

From left, Sandy Vaughn and Peggy Silkowski receive recognition at the Twig banquet from Carol Shafer, head of the Greeter Desk at Medina Memorial Hospital.

During their decades of supporting the hospital, they have provided hundreds of thousands of dollars for hospital renovations and equipment. The majority of their money was earned from their Twig-run gift shop, which had to be closed two years ago because of lack of volunteers.

That lack of volunteers was reiterated by Carol Shafer, who heads the Greeter Desk, and Janet Blount, who heads the Reception Desk.

The Greeter Desk registers visitors to the hospital, while the Reception Desk signs in patients coming in for tests and blood work.

Currently, the Greeter Desk has 14 volunteers on the list, but three are either sick or haven’t returned from the South, Shafer said. And one has asked to be removed from the schedule.

“With only 10 active volunteers, it is almost impossible to maintain a schedule of 10 shifts (two a day for five days a week),” Shafer said.

Shafer recognized Sandra Vaughn and Peggy Silkowski for their volunteer hours.

Janet Blount, who heads the Reception Desk, echoed the need for volunteers.

“This year has been a real struggle,” Blount said. “We’ve only had three consistent workers.”

She said she doesn’t know what she would have done without Diane Kujawa, Anne Ortwein and Susan Weese. Kujawa volunteered 625 hours last year; Ortwein, 310; and Weese, 184.

“There has to be someone willing to step up and give Carol Shafer and myself someone to call upon,” Blount said.

She welcomed a new volunteer, Rosemary Eden, who joined in January.

“We are already calling on her, above and beyond,” Blount said.

Of the original 11 branches of Twig, only two continue to meet. Laurel is the only one with monthly meetings six times a year. Honeysuckle meets several times a year for dinner out.

Laurel Twig makes and fills about 60 Christmas stockings each year for patients and long-term care residents.

Honeysuckle has been donating a champagne brunch and fiesta party to be auctioned off at the hospital Foundation’s Treasure Island in November. Their funds are earned by selling popcorn in the hospital lobby each Friday. They also help several other organizations at the Billy Martin Circus in January, which this year earned them $1,700.

Dona Masters reports to Twig members at their annual banquet on Honeysuckle Twig’s successful projects during the year, selling popcorn in the hospital lobby and helping with the Billy Martin Circus.

Mary Williams, a 47-year employee of the hospital and vice president of human resources at Orleans Community Health, gave an update on the hospital. They will be celebrating Hospital Week with various activities each day. Williams also reported on the closing of the Gift Shop, which had been open occasionally by Rosenkrans Pharmacy. When asked what the hospital was going to do with the space, she said with security becoming such an important issue, it could be used for a security office.

Several Twig members were recognized for their hours of volunteerism. Diane Kujawa and Sharon Keirn received a 2,000-hour bar, Tish McAdoo and JoAnne Sellers earned a 1,000-hour bar and Sandra Vaughn got her 100-hour bar.

Crane ended the evening by urging everyone to think of a new volunteer.

“It really is so rewarding,” she said.

File photos by Tom Rivers: St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina is one of two churches in Orleans County that will be featured May 19 in a Sacred Sites open house, a state-wide effort that includes about 200 churches. The church opened in 1832.

Historic churches around the state, including two in Orleans County, are opening their doors to showcase the architectural wonders inside the buildings on the weekend of May 18-19.

There are about 150 churches, synagogues or meeting houses on the “Sacred Sites” tour, including St. John’s Episcopal Church in Medina and the Cobblestone Universalist Church in Gaines.

Those two local churches will have an open house on May 19. The Cobblestone Universalist Church will be open that day from 2 to 5 p.m. The church, built in 1834, is located at 14389 Ridge Road West, Albion.

St. John’s Episcopal Church was completed in 1832. It is located at 200 east Center St. It will be open for the Sacred Sites tour from 1 to 3 p.m.

This is the ninth annual “Sacred Sites” tour in New York, an event aimed to raise public appreciation for the churches as community treasures with stained-glass windows, pipe organs, ornately carved pews, and decorative paintings and murals.

The New York Landmarks Conservancy is spearheading the Sacred Sites tour. The organization provides grants to churches in New York. The two churches in Orleans on the tour are among the recipients of Sacred Sites awards.

The Cobblestone Universalist Church in Gaines is the oldest cobblestone church in North America. The building was constructed in 1834.

This year’s event has a theme, “Medieval to Modern: Celebrating New York’s Religious Art and Architecture.” New York Landmarks Conservancy wants to highlight the broad spectrum of historical periods, faith traditions, and styles of religious architecture found in communities throughout New York State. Participating congregations will showcase their buildings and histories via lectures, musical performances, and special guided tours as well as highlight other cultural and social service programs offered throughout the year.

For more on the Sacred Sites tour, click here.

Courtesy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office: Some of the corrections officers at the Orleans County Jail are pictured in this display from the Sheriff’s Office. This week, May 5-11, is National Correctional Officers Week.

Press Release, Sheriff Randy Bower and Undersheriff Chris Bourke

ALBION – As part of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, the Orleans County Corrections Division is committed to meeting the standards of the community, striving to promote safety, security and provide opportunity for rehabilitation. Their core values include respect, responsibility, honesty and empathy.

Our dedicated Corrections Officers have the responsibility to operate a safe and secure detention facility in compliance with the New York State Corrections Law and with regulations set forth by the New York State Commission of Corrections.

Each member faces the difficult and often dangerous assignment of ensuring the security, safety and well-being of the inmates housed in the Orleans County Jail. Their position is essential to daily operations to achieve institutional goals of care, custody and supervision of approximately 600 inmates annually.

Please join us in recognizing our Orleans County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Officers for their dedication, hard work and service to the community.

Press Release, Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

Provided photos: Members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department participated in the “Family Fun Night” at Kendall School on April 26. The department’s K-9 officer and Child Safety Seat Program were showcased.

ALBION – In the month of April, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department 911 Dispatch Center processed 1,973 police incidents, including 740 events for Sheriff’s Road Patrol, 160 for the New York State Police and 1,073 calls for the village police agencies of Lyndonville, Medina, Albion and Holley. There were 473 Fire/EMS related calls dispatched countywide with 387 of those calls emergency medical in nature and 2 drug overdoses.

Sheriff’s Dept. Road Patrol Deputies handled 31 automobile accidents, including 9 with injury and 22 car-deer collisions. Road patrol also made 82 service attempts and successfully served 39 subpoenas, civil or court papers.

The Sheriff’s Animal Control Division handled 107 incidents including 32 stray dogs, 7 animal bite complaints, 15 neighbor dog problems and several other miscellaneous animal calls. In addition, 6 animals were taken in to shelter on voluntary surrenders.

The Orleans County Jail processed in 105 inmates and handled 50 prisoner transports.

Photo courtesy of Tom Smith

ROCHESTER – Brett Sobieraski of Kent, a sergeant with the Rochester Police Department, today received the Rochester Rotary Club’s Henry H. Jensen Memorial Award, the highest community award presented to a Rochester police officer.

Rochester Police Chief La’Ron Singletary, left, presents Sobieraski with the award at today’s Rotary meeting in Rochester. The award is given to a member of Rochester Police Department for serving the community “with great commitment, distinction, compassion, courage, character and integrity, and for upholding the highest performance and ethical standards of the Rochester Police Department.”

A Rochester police officer is nominated for the award by a member of the department, and those nominations are reviewed by the command staff. The Rotary Club presents the award during an annual luncheon.

Sobieraski started his career in Lockport and worked there for four years. He grew up in Lockport, where his late father John was a detective. Sobieraski joined the Rochester Police Department 26 years ago. He supervises the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team and is a team leader on the SWAT Team. He is also an instructor at the Monroe County Law Enforcement Academy.

Sobieraski said he has attended the luncheon many times in the past and considered many previous winners to be his mentors.

“I was really humbled to be among so many role models of mine,” he said tonight in an interview. “They aren’t just great law enforcement officers, they are great humans.”

Aside from his work in law enforcement, the Rotary Club cited Sobieraski’s work in the community. He has raised over $80,000 for organizations such as the Veterans Outreach Center, New York State Olympics, The Mahoney Family (Former RPD Sergeant Bill Mahoney), Huntington disease, The All in All Time Foundation, The Rochester Police Foundation and other organizations. Sobieraski raises money and awareness through long-distance runs, races, polar plunges and many other endurance activities.

He recently started a non-profit organization called Limitless Racing. This organization gives children of special needs the opportunity to experience the thrill and accomplishment of distance racing.

Sobieraski also is seeking election to be the next Orleans County sheriff. He and Chris Bourke are on the ballot in a June 25 primary.

ALBION – Hoag Library has three new trustees on its board of directors, and two current trustees will continue in their positions.

The library had its annual election and meeting on Monday. There were three candidates on the ballot for three positions. Maurice Taylor received the most votes and won a four-year term. Debbie DiBacco and Linda Weller each were elected to three-year terms. Taylor and DiBacco are both new to the board. About 80 people voted in the election.

At the annual meeting, the board also welcomed Dan Conrad as the new representative on the board for the Village of Albion. He replaces Elissa Nesbitt. Conrad serves at the will of Mayor Eileen Banker.

Nicole Bellnier also is staying on the board as a representative for the school district. She serves at the will of the president of the Board of Education, Margy Brown.

The library board has nine members overall with seven elected and two appointees.

Kevin Doherty was re-elected by the board to serve as president. He has one year remaining on the board before he is term-limited in 2020. Terry Wilbert was elected the board’s vice president and Anitrice (Riley) Bennett was elected treasurer.

The library is seeking $714,920 in the tax levy as part of the May 21 school budget vote, which is the same amount as 2018-19. That $714,920 is one of the propositions during the noon to 8 p.m. vote at the school.

ALBION – The Village of Albion is planning an Arbor Day event on May 15, which will include planting a tree on South Clinton Street near McDonalds.

The 1 p.m. celebration will include students from Tim Archer’s service learning class at Albion Middle School, as well as Mayor Eileen Banker.

Last year the village had its first Arbor Day celebration in many years. The village is taking steps to become a Tree City USA Community. Albion is using a state grant to do a survey of all the village-owned trees. That initiative includes a tree management plan and will identify spots to plant new trees.

MEDINA – Mary Woodruff saw the banners for the first time on Monday. She cried.

She has worked the past four months for a display of “Hometown Heroes,” large banners of soldiers who have served in the U.S. military from Medina.

She has 38 banners of soldiers, from World War II vets to current enlistees. The vinyl banners are double-sided and 5 feet tall by 2 ½ feet wide.

“I was extremely pleased,” she said when she saw them on Monday. “I had goosebumps.”

The banners will be publicly unveiled on May 19 during a reception at the former Medina Armory, where many of the soldiers trained. That facility on Pearl Street is now the Orleans County YMCA. The banners will all be displayed during that reception from 11 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

They will be on utility poles and street lights in time for Memorial Day on May 27. There will be 32 banners placed on Main Street between Starr Street through the downtown to Glenwood Avenue near the American Legion Butts-Clark Post. Another six banners will be on East Center Street.

They will stay up until just after Veterans Day in November. Woodruff expects they will last about three years.

She would like to add more next year, and will be going before the Village Board to seek its approval for additional banners in 2020.

“I want people to feel patriotism and restore pride in the USA,” she said today at the Village Clerk’s Office in Medina. “When you see a vet, say thank you.”

Mary Woodruff shows the banners of Sgt. Todd Draper who served in US Army 2004-05, including time in Iraq; and of World War II vet Sandino Stornelli Sr. Draper currently works as a lieutenant with the Medina Police Department.

Woodruff, a retired social studies and math teacher at Roy-Hart, pushed to start the Hometown Heroes effort in Medina after seeing a similar one in Alfred, where her late father-in-law Willis Burr Woodruff is featured on a banner. He served in World War II. He later ran the local Agway plants in Knowlesville and Batavia.

She was given permission by the Medina Village Board to pursue the project in January. She had 38 families step forward by a Feb. 15 deadline and pay the $200 cost for the banner and hardware to go on the poles. The Medina DPW agreed to install the banners. The Village Clerk’s Office handled the money for the project.

The banners have red and blue borders with a portrait of the featured veteran, as well as the vet’s name, time of service, branch of military, and honors. It also states who sponsored the banner.

Woodruff has a file for each of the 38 soldiers featured in banners.

“I feel like I know all of these soldiers,” she said today. “I’ve read about them and talked with their families.”

The debut of the banners comes at a time when Medina is celebrating the restoration of the World War I cannon at State Street Park and also has welcomed a new bronze statue of a soldier as part of a memorial at the former Armory.

“The timing is perfect,” Woodruff said.

Medina restaurant will add rooftop dining later this year

Photo by Ginny Kropf: Michael Zambito, left, owner of Zambistro in Medina, shows his new dining room to Dawn Meland and Pat Woodworth, who were there for the Twig banquet.

MEDINA – Michael Zambito always knew what he wanted to do – be a chef.

“I wanted to be a chef and I wanted to do it here in Medina,” he said.

Zambito graduated from Medina High School in 2000, and in 2004 he entered the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, graduating in 2005.

He had several local jobs, including the former Apple Grove Inn, until he and his mother Rita Zambito purchased the building at 408 North Main Street.

At age 23, he opened Zambistro, a restaurant in his hometown.

Business has grown and his eatery has become a popular spot in the area, due to his culinary expertise. It became evident he needed more space, Zambito said.

He has recently completed an addition, which saw a revamping of the front entrance, a new side entrance into a new dining room capable of seating at least 30, a new bathroom and doubling the catering kitchen.

He said the new dining room is a perfect venue for small parties, showers or rehearsal dinners.

He credits his success with their European take on table service and a menu of American comfort food, served in an intimate atmosphere.

“This is a place where you can bring your wife for your anniversary or come in for lunch wearing your shorts,” Zambito said.

The next stage in the expansion is to create a rooftop dining venue, with a birds-eye view of the canal. He would like to see it completed by summer.

The restaurant’s specialty is homemade pasta, with Zambito’s meatball recipe. He is also known for his signature desserts.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday.

MURRAY – The owner of a Murray business has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Murray and its former code enforcement officer.

Anthony Manno, owner of A & M Automotive and Transmissions in Fancher, was in the parking lot at the Fancher Post Office on Route 31 on Feb. 23, 2018. Ron Vendetti, Murray’s code enforcement officer at the time, drove over Manno’s right foot, according to a lawsuit filed April 11 against the town and Vendetti.

“The injury to the plaintiff was caused by the negligence of the defendants,” the lawsuit states. “As a result of the defendants’ negligence, plaintiff suffered serious and permanent injuries, causing him to endure pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and a permanent disability.”

Manno served a notice of claim to the town in March 2018, and town has refused to pay or adjust this claim, according the lawsuit filed by Sheldon W. Boyce Jr. of Brenna Boyce Attorneys At Law in Rochester.

“The actions of defendant Vendetti were so wanton, willful and reckless as to justify an award for punitive damages,” the lawsuit states.

Manno is seeking compensatory and punitive damages plus interest, costs and disbursements.

The Murray Town Board didn’t reappoint Vendetti to code enforcement officer in 2019. Vendetti, however, challenged that decision because he had already received a paycheck to start the year as the code enforcement officer.

The board last month approved a separation agreement with Vendetti for an undisclosed sum.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – It didn’t take long for Hoag Library’s new sign to be up and working today. A crew from Toth’s Sports arrived this morning with the sign and had it installed and operating by afternoon.

The company worked with the library to design a sign that matched the look of the library, which opened in 2012.

The sign will be used to promote programs and events at Hoag. The first event to be posted on the sign: the library’s annual meeting.

The Daktronic sign has high resolution and clarity. The sign’s face is about 4 feet high and 7 ½ feet wide.

File photos by Tom Rivers: Making the Medina Waterfalls more accessible to the public was part of Medina’s application in 2017 for a $10 million state application. Medina is going to try again for the funding.

MEDINA – The Village of Medina plans to seek a $10 million state grant for downtown revitalization.

Medina sought the funding in 2017, but wasn’t approved. It didn’t apply last year, instead worked to put more pieces in place for the application, including a local waterfront development plan.

The recently passed state budget included a fourth round of the $10 million grants to 10 different regions of the state. Orleans County is considered in the Finger Lakes region by the state.

In the first three years of the program, the $10 million grants were approved in the Finger Lakes for downtowns the City of Geneva, City of Batavia and Village of Penn Yan. The state has approved 30 of the grants to the 10 regions altogether.

“As we have already seen with 30 communities across the State, the Downtown Revitalization Initiative is so much more than a $10 million prize,” Governor Cuomo said in a news release on April 19. “This critical program completely transforms downtown communities, resulting in unprecedented growth and development that leads to a renewed sense of pride in our cities, towns and villages. I look forward to seeing another 10 communities compete and prosper over the next year thanks to this critical funding.”

The program is looks to transform downtown districts in vulnerable areas of the state into livable, walkable and dynamic neighborhoods.

The grant applications are due by 4 p.m. on May 31. The Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council will review the applications and then submit its pick to the state win July for further review.

The regional council and state both will look for a downtown that has a plan to build on momentum of other public and private investment in the community.

Some of the criteria listed by the state for the winning downtown:

• There should be recent or impending job growth within, or in close proximity to the downtown that can attract workers to the downtown, support redevelopment and make growth sustainable;

• The downtown must be an attractive and livable community for diverse populations of all ages, including existing residents, millennials and skilled workers;

• The municipality should already embrace or have the ability to create and implement policies that increase livability and quality of life, including the use of local land banks, modern zoning codes and parking standards, complete streets plans, energy efficient projects, green jobs and transit-oriented development;

• The municipality should have conducted an open and robust community engagement process resulting in a vision for downtown revitalization and a preliminary list of projects and initiatives that may be included in a DRI strategic investment plan; and

• The municipality has identified transformative projects that will be ready for implementation with an infusion of DRI funds within the first one to two years.

The site on Main Street that used to be the Starlite Cleaners could be redeveloped into parking and green space, Medina said in its state application for $10 million.

In Medina’s previous application, it sought to take better advantage of the wide Canal Basin, which Medina officials said then had “underutilized and untapped potential.”

The Medina application stated the downtown is ideally situated between Rochester and Buffalo. The village is on the Niagara Wine Trail and includes destination restaurants such as Mariachi De Oro and Zambistro’s.

Medina already has several popular events and attractions such as the Polar Express (19,000 in December), Parade of Lights (10,000 in late November), Thomas the Tank Engine (12,000 in May), Steampunk Festival, Wine about Winter, Ale in Autumn and Farm-to-Table dinner.

The application noted planned investments in the community, including a $6 million renovation of the Bent’s Opera House to develop the site into a boutique hotel, high-end restaurant and event space. The former Medina High School also is planned to be redeveloped into a mixed-use facility with apartments.

Medina also has a Business Park that has been a finalist for significant projects, including one manufacturer that would have created 800 jobs. Besides that coveted land in the business park, Medina is also 8 miles from the STAMP high-tech park in the Town of Alabama.

With the recent business expansions and prospects for more mean industry, Medina will feel a demand for residential opportunities, the application from Medina stated.

Much of the Medina housing stock and downtown architecture is in need of significant investment following decades of economic depression in the community, the application states.

Some highlights of Medina’s previous application for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative include:

• Canal Basin Revitalization: Medina proposed burying power lines (costs and lead times have already been obtained from National Grid), reconfiguring parking and roadway, improving pedestrian/bicycle traffic flow and replacing concrete wall with grass and tree lined slope. Medina also wants to remediate any soil conditions as needed.

The village application also sought Canal Basin infrastructure improvements with upgraded boating amenities – slips, docks, tie-ups and restroom improvements, better lighting for security and ambiance, a boat launch and a kayak launch, as well as more tree plantings and walkway improvements.

• Medina Waterfall Area Upgrades: The Medina waterfall exists as a result of a unique engineering infrastructure feat related to the Canal and Canal Basin, the Medina application states. Medina wants to bolster this unique opportunity around the canal and the Medina area and create a regional tourist attraction that would also draw more customers to downtown businesses and improve the local quality of life.

The application sought to allow pedestrian access to the waterfall, and also repair sidewalks and improve lighting.

• Seasonal Business Development Program: The village in its application sought a design and development program for seasonal businesses entrepreneurial opportunities. Medina said it would engage architecture and design students from local universities to help design and construct any temporary or permanent Canal Basin shop buildings.

• Streetscape Upgrades: The goal of the improved streetscapes would be to connect the surrounding residential areas to downtown and the Canal Basin. This effort would also work in with conjunction with the Brownfield Acquisition & Development portion of the proposed plan as well as the overall planing board initiative to improve pedestrian walkways and bike paths throughout the village.

• Buildings & Facades – Mixed Use: This program promotes enhanced usage of Medina’s unique downtown building stock – an asset base with many buildings comprised of priceless Medina Sandstone housed in a compact four corner downtown district which supports entrepreneurial pursuits, social engagement, civic leadership, walkability, cultural events and preservation, according to the application.

The recent capital investments by businesses in the community is creating a larger and larger housing and temporary lodging deficiency within the Medina area. This portion of funding would be directed toward attracting the national level talent these companies are seeking by leveraging Medina’s existing untapped architectural resources and infrastructure to increase unique hotel, temporary and permanent housing options across a diverse project set.

Mixed use developments with residential projects would better utilize buildings and boost the local tax base, Medina officials said.

Medina also said some of the $10 million award could be used to expand the scope, utilization and economic development within the local farmers market (Canal Village Farmers Market) – perhaps with a year-round facility. The market could use bathrooms, lighting, paints, etc. The market fills a need in the downtown with the nearest grocery store 2 miles away.

Medina could design and develop a best practice strategy for increasing local food consumption, local farmer economic support via community purchasing power and overall cultural awareness of the benefits related to supporting local food movements (reduced carbon footprints, access to whole healthy fruits and vegetables for blighted neighborhoods).

• Brownfield Acquisition & Development: There are two key brownfield sites coupled with two existing properties within the downtown Medina area that could be leveraged in accordance with the previously laid out infrastructure projects. Both 151 Pearl Street and 331 Main Street could be transformed into a mixed-use municipal parking and green space lot serving parking needs while increasing overall green space.

Mayor Mike Sidari said the village and the committee working on the plan welcomes input on the plan and application. There will be an opportunity for the public to comment on proposals on May 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Village Clerk’s Office, 19 Park Ave.

Photo from Governor’s Office: Gov. Andrew Cuomo looks at a AquaDam in Irondequoit on Saturday. Some spots in Carlton and Kendall are being considered for the AquaDams, which are pumped with lake water and then released back into the lake when the water levels go down.

Lake Ontario southshore communities continue with their flood preparations as Lake Ontario steadily rises.

In Orleans County, the towns of Carlton, Yates and Kendall all have requested 50 pallets of sandbags which should be delivered to the those highway departments later this week, said Dale Banker, the county’s director of Emergency Management.

State and federal officials are also looking at spots in Carlton and Kendall for AquaDams, which are large inner tubes filled with lake water.

In Orleans County, there is a sandbagging operation at the state Department of Transportation in Albion with inmates from the Orleans Correctional Facility filling the sandbags.

Banker said the sandbags haven’t been requested yet by many residents, but the towns, county and state are working to have a supply of sandbags ready. Once the sandbags are filled and the pallets ready, the Orleans County Highway Department will take them to the highway departments in Yates, Carlton and Kendall.

Banker said another sandbagging machine is available with 25,000 sandbags to be filled if there is a demand.

Congressman Chris Collins (R-Clarence) was at Oak Orchard Harbor this morning with Orleans and Niagara officials to discuss water levels that Collins said are increasing at a rate of ½ inch per day on average. Collins has urged the International Joint Commission to scrap Plan 2014 for regulating the water levels.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo was in Irondequoit on Saturday to highlight the state’s efforts to deploy sandbags, AquaDams, pumps and other resources to lakeshore communities. The state by the end of Saturday put out 750,000 empty sandbags, nearly 47,000 filled sandbags, 14 sandbaggers, hundreds of pumps and 670 feet of AquaDam throughout the eight counties lining the shores of the lake.

“Our immediate concern is the emergency preparation in case of flooding, which has the potential to impact the entire northern coast of the state,” Governor Cuomo said. “We are working with local communities to protect the shoreline including fortifying it with sand bags and an emergency AquaDam, and we are deploying 100 members of the National Guard.”

If the federal government passes a $2 trillion infrastructure bill, Cuomo said some of those funds should go to protecting the shoreline. He also said the IJC needs to do a better job of managing the lake water levels.